Senator Edward D. Maloney News

Governor Pat Quinn today addressed the General Assembly on the State of the State. State Senator Ed Maloney, Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, responded to Governor Quinn’s stress on the importance of funding MAP grants and other avenues to education funding:

“I am happy to see that Governor Quinn still holds higher education funding as a priority to the success of Illinois. To keep Illinois competitive nationally and globally, we must have an educated work force. We can only accomplish this if we provide opportunities for our youth to seek higher education. Unfortunately, we are seeing tuition costs rise excessively as funding cuts are affecting colleges and universities and this is making college affordability harder for families. We must continue to work alongside Governor Quinn in the effort to adequately fund MAP grants and similar higher education funding avenues to give opportunities for a successful future to our children.”

Springfield, IL – In an effort to help parents better understand the progress of schools and districts across the state, Governor Quinn signed a measure today that will redesign the school report card. Sponsored by Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago), the redesign will make the report card more user-friendly and focus on student outcomes, student progress, and school environment.

Read more: Governor Signs Bill School Report Card Redesign

In an effort to help parents better understand the progress of schools and districts across the state, Governor Quinn signed a measure today that will redesign the school report card. Sponsored by Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago), the redesign will make the report card more user-friendly and focus on student outcomes, student progress, and school environment.

One requirement in the Education Reform Package passed by the General Assembly in 2011, the school report card revamp was to be decided by the P-20 Council. House Bill 605 represents the Council’s recommendations and the redesigned report card will be issued each October 31 starting in 2013. The State Board of Education is required to provide a state report card, school district report card, and school report card to each school district.

“The legislation will help parents better understand the effectiveness of their children's schools," Maloney said. “Sometimes information overload can be ineffective. The previous report cards did not give general info and it was a lot for parents to comprehend what effect individual components played in the efficiency of their child’s education.” 

The new school report card design will expand on the areas previously reported by the State Board of Education, but will include a one-page summary. Those areas include student demographics, curriculum, student achievements and school environment. The new design was developed by a coalition of a steering committee, teachers, parents and students. 

 

State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago) has been selected to serve as Treasurer for the Midwest Higher Education Compact, a group advancing higher education in Illinois and 11 other Midwestern states. Senator Maloney chairs the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, and is a former school administrator and teacher.

Senator Maloney has previously served as a State Commissioner with MHEC. As Treasurer, he will be responsible for monitoring the administration of all fiscal policies and procedures, overseeing annual audits, budgeting, bonding, and other financial-related reports.

“MHEC encourages greater access to and results in our higher education systems,” Maloney said. “Their policy research and analysis for Midwestern states was a resource for our new state law establishing performance-based funding for higher education institutions, legislation I sponsored in 2011. As the Senate’s Higher Ed chairman I am pleased to remain involved with MHEC to stay informed on emerging trends.”

Each MHEC member state is represented by five people on its 60-member governing body made up of legislators, higher education leaders, and governors’ representatives. The commission meets annually at a site rotated among the member states.

MHEC was founded in 1991, and serves Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill last week sponsored by State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago) creating more opportunities for students to attend the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences for the 2012-13 school year.

Signed on December 30, Public Act 97-0648 takes effect immediately and will expand enrollment from 600 to 720 students. Two House Amendments to the bill stipulate at least half of each incoming class enrollment be reserved for those who live near the school.

"I am grateful to Governor Quinn for signing this bill so quickly because it allows Principal William Hook to take advantage of this expansion in the upcoming school year," Senator Maloney said. "This is a high-demand, well-recognized agriculture business and science program, and this will produce even more job candidates for this key Illinois industry."

CHSAS provides Chicago area high school students who are strong in math and science studies opportunities to pursue studies and careers in the agriculture business and science fields. Open since 1985, the school produces college and university scholarship and internship candidates, and its focused curriculum motivates students to stay in school. The school also provides much-needed opportunities for special education students.

The school is nationally known as the premier model for secondary agricultural education and a benchmark for other ag schools in the U.S.